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'This is a continuation of the trend which saw funding of biomedical research increase in real terms by over 50 per cent in the decade to 2006, while animal procedures increased by just 12.5 per cent over the same period.'

He added: 'Using more animals does not mean more suffering. Many mice and fish are only used to breed better models of serious illnesses such as cancer or Alzheimer's, or to replace higher animals such as monkeys or dogs.'

The Government and research centres have pledged to reduce the number of animals used in experiments, replace animal research with other tests where possible and refine experiments so animals feel less pain - a policy known as the 'three Rs'.

But Dr Sebastien Farnaud, of the Dr Hadwen Trust for Humane Research, described the figures as 'shocking'.

He added: 'It has repeatedly been shown how irrelevant to human patients animal disease models can be, so sustaining such high animal use is not in the best interests of science.

'With the scientific expertise this country has to offer, we should have seen far greater progress to replace animals with more advanced techniques.'

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Scientists carry out 3.7m experiments on animals in 12 months as UK figures climb to 20-year high